⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗

The arrival of Saint John the Hermit in Crete of the Early Christian Times was the beginning of a great ascetic tradition that continues to the present day. Hundreds of hermits secluded in the most remote parts of the island, forming ascetic communities that later evolved to thriving monasteries. Hundreds of countryside monasteries, most of which don't operate today, are dispersed throughout the island.

A special sample of hermitage is the Monastery Katholiko at Akrotiri Cape in the caves of which hermits lived their monastic life away, from worldly pleasures. Equally important were the religious sites of the secluded peninsulas Gramvousa and Rodopos, where several small monasteries developed.

The greatest hermitage of all was the naturally isolated, and impassable range of Asterousia in southern Heraklion. Hundreds of caves from Saint Nikitas to Cape Lithino still host hermits. Relations between them were so limited that in Agiofarago and Martsalo they gathered only once a year, in cave Goumenospilio and counted how many of them survived each year.

In eastern Crete, the north province of Mirabello is the largest field of asceticism with dozens of small monastic establishments. Here hermits built small monasteries, where they usually lived alone.

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Saint George church at Kolokasia

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The church of Saint George is located above the deserted village Kolokasia in province Sfakia, near Frangokastello, at the exit of the gorge Asfendou. This temple gives the current official name of the village Kolokasia, Agios Georgios.

Church of Saint Theodore at Moulia

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South of Ano Moulia, at a rural location full of olive trees, there is the church of Saint Theodore the Sanctified. Saint Theodore the Sanctified celebrates on 16 May. This is an extremely rare Saint and this church is the only one in Crete honored in his name. Throughout the Greek area there is a second temple in Ithaca.

Church of Panagia Perivolitsiani at Nippos

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The church of Panagia Perivolitissa or Perivolitsiani is a single-aisled temple of 1570 built on a hill north of the village Nippos. The temple is dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin Mary and bears frescoes in poor condition. It is believed that the place operated as a monastery, Episcopal Seat, after the desctruction of Aptera town by an earthquake, and as a school of hagiography. In the church there are graves of monks and priests.

North Agios Nikitas

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At Asterousia Mountains, because of the very low rainfalls, the existence of a spring of water played a key role during the selection of places to develop settlements. Such a small settlement, in which the existence of springs favored its development was the settlement Goulis Metohi, known to the shepherds mainly a North Agios Nikitas.

Church of Saint George at Ancient Lyktos

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The church of Saint George is located in the archaeological site of Lyttos. The temple is adorned with frescoes while under the church floor, mosaics of an early Christian Basilica were identified. It celebrates on April 13.

Lord Christ Church at Eleftherna

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The double church of the Transfiguration of Christ and Saint Anne is located in the cemetery of the village Ancient Eleftherna. The original church of the 10th century bears frescoes of the 12th century, has a dome and was built on the ruins of an older temple of the 6th century.

Saint John church at Kounavi

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North of the village Kounavi we meet the church of St. John the Baptist. The church bears frescoes of the 14th century.

Panagia church at Archontiko

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The cemeterial temple of the village Arhontiko at province Monofatsi is dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary. While the exterior does not look interesting, the interior impresses the visitor with the Byzantine frescoes in relatively good condition.

According to an inscription, the frescoes date back from 1352 and were painted by Theodosios Galinos.

Asceticism

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